Bach, J S: Organ Concerto in C major (after Johann Ernst), BWV595

Bach’s Concertos and Chorale Preludes per formed on the magnificent Silbermann organ of the Arlesheim Cathedral.

Volume 6 of Margaret Phillips’ on-going and critically-acclaimed cycle of the complete organ works of JS Bach Two CD set at ‘two-for-one’ price, each disc is a self-contained recital featuring major works, a trio sonata, a concerto and a selections of chorale preludes.

The first disc features one of the worlds most iconic historic organs, built in 1738 by Christian Müller, in St Bavo’s church in Haarlem. The second disc features the large 2004 Bernard Aubertin organ in St Louis-en-l’Île, Paris. Built in eighteenthcentury German style this instrument is a similar size to the one in Haarlem and offers a fascinating comparison.

Repertoire includes some of Bach’s largest works for organ, with the Prelude and Fugues in Eminor (‘Wedge’) and B minor at Haarlem and the Fantasia and Fugue in G minor at Paris.

In Bach’s time it was common practice to arrange works of other composers for different instruments.Also the great J.S. Bach transcribed solo concertos (for instance violin concertos, wind concertos) of such famous composers like Vivaldi and Marcello for organ solo.

CD was recorded in Kotka (Finland) on the organ used during the famous Kotka International Organ Competition.

Detailed organ registration available in the booklet.

Including the famous Fugue in D minor BWV 539 (originally for viol solo).

CD recorded with the unique ULSI recording system.

A follow up release of Matthias Havinga will follow in the second half of 2011.

Although it would be almost impossible to believe from the lofty position J.S. Bach occupies in the pantheon of the great composers, during his lifetime he was best known as one of the very greatest virtuosos and improvisers on the harpsichord and organ. He produced works of unrivalled contrapuntal art. As a result of his duties at court and for the church, Bach never travelled beyond what we now call Germany. His musical interests and the influences upon his compositional style came from outside the borders of his homeland. It was in particular the music of the Venetian master - Vivaldi and Marcello. Through the young half brother of the Duke of Sachsen-Weimer (who was a very talented violinist) Bach received the scores of Vivaldi’s op.3 concertos, and he learned from the Prince of a Dutch organist, the blind Jan Jakob de Graaf, who could perform such concertos by heart, in three or four voices. Bach’s transcriptions demand an absolute technical mastery of an order unprecedented at the time.What fun he must have had making these arrangements - a welcome change from the day to day duties that kept him from travelling.

This recording presents pieces freely transcribed by both composers, with particular attention to Bach compositions drawn from the original Vivaldi repertoire. The ensemble Quartetto Icarus is well suited to the polyphonic writing by these two Baroque composers.